
FLM 

2015 

051773 



i 






I 


l 


» 


\ 


* 









































< 








Class_ -362- 

. to 

Rnnk /'3 V3 


% 





















I 





f 




JOSEPH BRADLEY VARNUM 









A SKETCH 


OF THE 

LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 

OF 

JOSEPH BRADLEY VARNUM 

OF MASSACHUSETTS, 


Member of the United States House of Representatives from 1795 to 1811, and its 
Speaker from 1807 to 1811; Member of the Senate of the United States from 
1811 to 1817 , and its President pro tem, 1813; Member of the Con¬ 
stitutional Convention of Massachusetts and its Presiding Officer, 

1820; an Officer in the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia 
from 1776 to 1821, and its Major-General from 
1805 to 1821. 


By JOHN MARSHALL VARNUM, 

Of Boston. 


J ) > 

) 0 > 

BOSTON: 

DAVID CLAPP & SOU, PRINTERS 
1906 . 





Reprinted from “The Varnums of Dracutt, Mass” 


£3? f *y 



JOSEPH BRADLEY VARNUM . 5 

By John Marshall Varnum . 7 


Joseph Bradley Varnum was born, lived and died in 
Dracutt on the farm left him by his father, Samuel. In his 
early years he had the common school advantages which was 
the lot of all youth of his day and generation, which although 
meagre in the light of modern educational advancement was 
an excellent foundation, because thorough even in its limits. 
Of his three brothers, James Mitchell alone attained to a col¬ 
lege education, graduating in the first class of Providence 
College, now Brown University. Samuel Varnum, the father, 
like all New England farmers, could not afford to all his sons 
the same advantages of education, and Joseph Bradley, the 
third son, had to remain to carry on the home farm. He was, 
however, a youth with a definite purpose in life, and sought 
diligently to improve his mind with such means as was then 
available. It is said of him, that he used to lay down evenings 
before the blazing wood fire, and despite the fatigue and 
monotony of farm life, devote himself to study. 

In his autobiography,* written in the last years of his life, he 
narrates that he had w but a very scanty library for a young 
man to refer to, in order to obtain knowledge without a teacher, 
but a strict attention to agriculture did not prevent him from 
often recurring to it, and he spent many hours in pursuit of his 


* Autobiography dictated by him to and written by his niece, Harriet Swett Varnum, in 
1818, in the possession of John M. Varnum. 



object.” It was, perhaps, unfortunate that his self-taught 
knowledge, which in after life, with his commanding intellect, 
gained him high credit in the many public positions which he 
filled, led him to place undue stress upon it, and to regard a com¬ 
mon school or academic education sufficient for his sons, who 
greatly lamented their deficiency of knowledge, although they 
all w T ent to the academy at Westford, of which their father was 
one of the incorporators. 

A thoughtful, studious boy, young Varnum could not but 
make a sober-minded man. Even at the age of thirteen he 
was mindful of the sense of his obligation to his Maker, and 
that turn of mind so actuated him during his long political 
career, that his character was ever of stern and inflexible in¬ 
tegrity. Many years after, towards the close of his life (1818), 
he became an ardent Baptist, and together with his wife and 
others was immersed in the waters of the little brook flowing 
through his farm. There being none other than Congregational 
or Orthodox worship in the Dracutt Centre Meeting-house, to 
which he was an original subscriber, he joined the Baptist So¬ 
ciety in Haverhill. Secession from stated worship, for which 
every man was compelled to pay tithes, was, in that day, rank 
heresy, and in consequence of this act the use of the Centre 
Meeting-house was denied to his son, for a funeral discourse 
after his father’s decease. 

When he was twenty-two years of age, he took unto himself 
a wife, who, in all senses, was a valuable and efficient helpmate. 
He speaks of her, after their forty-eight years of married life, 
and twelve children had blessed their union, of the " cordiality 
and friendship which had uniformly pervaded their minds since 
their first acquaintance, and how when, in 1782, nine years after 
their marriage, they lost by fire their home and its contents, 
which their industry and economy had accumulated, yet find¬ 
ing that none of their dear children were consumed in the 


flames, they blessed God that nothing more grievous had be¬ 
fallen them.” Molly Butler was the daughter of Jacob and 
Mary (Eames) Butler of Pelham, N. H., a town adjoining 
Dracutt. She was of sturdy New England stock, and ever 
retained the love and esteem of her husband, and the warm 
affection of her children. On the tablet to her memory, 
erected in the little burial-ground adjoining the Gen. Varnum 
farm, is justly inscribed: "Her children rise up and call her 
blessed.” Her husband further says other: "Throughout the 
whole of the struggle (Am. Revolution) he had the consolation 
and accordance of his beloved wife. When soldiers were called 
upon to go into service who were not possessed of blankets, 
she furnished them, even to taking of the last she had. When 
they needed shirts or knapsacks, she supplied them by cutting 
up her sheets, even to the head tester sheet of her own bed, 
relying on Divine Providence for strength to manufacture 
more.” That she was a woman of sturdy independence and 
imposing dignity of character, is shown by her conduct during 
the inflammatory times of the Shays Rebellion (1786), which 
her husband, at the head of his military company, assisted in 
suppressing. He says: "Mrs. Varnum was visited by a num¬ 
ber of those friendly to the insurrection, and insulted in a most 
menacing manner; but that heroic zeal and undeviating patri¬ 
otism, which was her uniform characteristic during the Revo¬ 
lutionary War, enabled her to promptly repel their insinuations 
and menaces in such a manner as to compel them to retire with 
shame and discomfiture.” 

Samuel Varnum, on the marriage of his son, 26 Jan., 1773, 
gave him as his portion " 160 acres of land, with half a dwelling- 
house and a barn 30x30. A small portion of the land was 
under cultivation, but it was almost entirely without any per¬ 
manent fence; but having been raised a farmer, he became at¬ 
tached to that occupation, and pursued it with all industry and 


6 


perseverance, so that by economy of his wife and the aid of his 
children ” he, in 1818, w owned 500 acres of land, the greater 
part under good cultivation, with extensive buildings, and more 
than ten miles of good stone fence upon it.” 

He was a practical and successful farmer, as is evident from 
the fact that his farm was the main means of support of his 
large family; at least, up to the times when his public services 
took him from his home to Philadelphia and Washington, in 
the early days of the Republic. A letter written to his son 
George in the beginning of his Congressional career, is an 
evidence of his practical turn of mind, and his deep interest 
in affairs on his Dracutt farm. 


"Philadelphia, Nov. 28th, 1797. 

You are no doubt apprised of the probability of a hard winter, and the 
Consequent necessity there will be of strict Economy In the Expenditure 
of every kind of Fodder. Tend the Cattle carefully, fodder them often, 
keep them clean and warm, water them three times in a day, and never 
give them more than they will Eat, and still Retain an appetite for more; 
all this will not only save fodder, but will be of much Service to the 
Cattle, both in their Flesh and Strength. Throw no Straw, or other 
fodder into the yard, on the common principle of making manure; but let 
it all be eat by the stock. The Calf which was nigh coming when I left 
home had best be Yealed, and killed at a month old. This will be a 
saving of at least four times the value of the Calf, by the milk of the Cow. 
Let all the Cows which give milk, be tyed together, that they may have 
provender and other high keeping; from this mode of Treatment additional 
profits will be derived from them. Do not fail to have all the Cattle 
curried every morning, & the Horses twice in a day, every day. Sheep, 
although Generally the least attended to, in the Winter season, in order to 
ensure profits from them, I think, require the strictest attention of any 
species of stock; they have a very delicate Taste, and although they will 
live on very little when the Ground is bare if suffered to range, yet in that 
way they are but little profit to the owner; but if they are properly tended 
to, they are the most profitable stock a Farmer can keep; they should bo 


7 


watered often, have a small matter of sweet fodder at a time and frequently 
repeated; no oats should be suffered to lay before them from day to day, 
neither should their dung be suffered to remain in the Hovel where they 
feed together for any considerable time. All Cattle, Horses, Sheep and 
Swine should have their feed at particular set times, each day; a scanty 
allowance in that way, will keep a Stock much better than even a Sur¬ 
plusage dealt out to them in a different manner. 

In order to Succeed in any profession or Occupation in life it is highly 
necessary and important, to pay strict attention to the duties of it, and at NJ 
all such times, as the nature thereof shall require. To be a Farmer, a 
consistent Farmer, happy in the Occupation, and respectable in Society, 
it is necessary to rise Early in the Morning, Pay Speedy attention to all 
necessary requirements, and take advantage of the Labours of the day, 
by performing the most arduous part, before the Sun arises to its Meridian 
Splendor. The strictest attention must be paid to the Buildings, Fences, 

Stock of Cattle, husbandry tools, and every species of produce. All 
necessary repairs must be Early made. No part of the produce must be 
suffered to be wasted or lost for want of care. Thus the Farmer becomes 
wealthy, respectable and happy. ******* 

I highly revere all the laudable professions and Occupations in Life, 
and I should be very happy to have it in my power to place each of my 
Children in such of them as they might choose. Yet From the variety 
of different situations I have Experienced, and the many professions and 
Occupations with which I have been acquainted, I have not discovered any 
other situation in which I think I could make myself so Comfortable and 
happy as in the cultivation of a good Farm. * * * 

I was about to close this Letter, but several matters of family, police, 
and agricultural relations, which I wish you to attend to, occur to my 
mind. I have been apprehensive from the severity of the weather since I 
left home, that you have not been able to compleat the plowing of the field 
assigned for planting Indian Corn the next spring. If that be the case, 
pray do not fail of Imbracing the first opportunity to Effect it. Whenever 
the frost and snow will permit, if in mid-winter, let the plough be going 
until it is accomplished. 

Be cautious of Cutting any Green Wood for the fires, if the winter will 
permit you to do otherwise, if not, select those Trees which are on the 
decay in the back Thicket. Let your wood be cut at the door, for sum- 


8 


mer, and neatly piled up. See that all the Husbandry Tools are kept 
under cover in their proper places, when they are not in use. Thrash the 
Grain as soon as possible and have it secured in Casks in the Corn barn. 
Dress out the flax before spring work shall Interfere. You will keep the 
doors, and the passages for water about the House, clear of Snow. Make 
a point of keeping all the windows of the House fastened down. Bolt all 
the doors, and lock the Corn barn every night. I hope you will be scru¬ 
pulously attentive to the fires, see them properly Extinguished every night 
before you retire. Keep the Children at school; take them to Meeting as 
constant as the weather will permit. Minute your accounts in the day 
Book every Evening. Keep a Cash account of the money you receive & 
pay away. And I do Conjure you to be particularly kind and attentive 
to your Mam’m, and let all other kinds of business give way, when you 
can thereby become Subservient to her wishes, Comfort, or happiness.”* 



His sons were kept on the home acres until fully of age, 
when their father’s influence and their own sturdiness advanced 
them to more advantageous and lucrative positions. The 
youngest, Benjamin Franklin, by agreement, remained with 
his parents until their deaths, and received the larger share of 
the landed estate. 


Military Services. 

He early imbibed a taste for military life. At sixteen years 
of age, when "in 1767 the British troops were transported 
hither with an avowed design of enforcing submission to the 
mother country, he visited said troops in Boston from day to 
day, with a view to acquire a knowledge of military tactics 
and discipline to better enable himself to become useful in the 
defence and in anticipation of the Independence of his coun¬ 
try.” 

"Previous to the war with the mother country, there was 

* Letter in possession of John M. Varnum, 


9 


one military company in Dracutt, but not under any recognized 
authority, nor tactical instruction. The Boston Massacre in 
1770 aroused and fired a latent spirit of the Love of Liberty 
and Independence in the old Town, and soon after the Massa¬ 
cre, there were formed two volunteer companies. One of these 
included about 70 men, and organized itself similar to the com¬ 
panies under the Royal Government. This Company unani¬ 
mously chose Joseph B. Varnum for their Captain. The 
Train Band included men from 15 years of age upward. This 
Band met frequently, and made much progress, until Decem¬ 
ber, 1774, when the Provincial Congress decided to enlist 
12,000 men to act as Minute Men under any particular emer¬ 
gency. The Train Band then reorganized with Stephen Russell 
as Captain; Simon Coburn as Lieutenant; Abraham Coburn 
as Ensign, older men, but retained young Yarnumas Instructor 
both to themselves and the militia under their command, in 
which capacity he continued to serve until the commencement 
of the Revolutionary War.” He marched with said Company 
under Capt. Russell to the fight at Lexington. On Jan. 1, 
1776, there was a reorganization of the militia, and Varnum 
was chosen Captain of the Dracutt companies of Minute Men 
and was accepted, and received his commission from the Bay 
State Council dated 31st of May, 1776.* He held command 
of this Company until the 4th day of April, 1787. 

Upon Capt. Varnum devolved the duty of keeping up the 
quota of requisition for men from his town, and he " never failed 
in a single instance.” In this capacity he was of signally effi¬ 
cient service to the cause. The Continental Congress was 
continually calling on the thirteen States for men. None could " 
or would enlist beyond a few months. Even at the siege of 
Boston, the Connecticut troops, their terms of enlistment ex¬ 
piring, refused to serve unless they were promised bounty, and 

* Mass, Muster Rolls, Vol. xli. 155. 


10 


~T 


many returned home because they were so refused, as no 
authority had been granted by the Continental Congress in the 
matter. 

Capt. Varnum was drawn with his Command, 29 Sept., 1777; 
and marched to "reinforce ye Northern Army,” and had "the 
consolation of seeing a whole British Army with Burgoyne at 
their head, march from the heights, music beating a retreat, 
upon the plains of Saratoga.” 


John Varnum in his Journal says, 

"27 Sept 1777, Orders came for 1-2 of ye able bodied officers and 
soldiers immediately to march to Tyconderoga.” 

" 29 Sept., Capt. Joseph Bradley Varnum was drawn with 40 men to 
march to ye Westward.” 

" 1 Oct., Capt. Varnum and his Company tarried until afternoon wait¬ 
ing for horses.” 

"2 Oct., The Company marched early in ye morning.” 

" 12 Oct., Had news that our people had arrived safely to Bennington.” 

"16 Oct., Old Mr. Davis came home from the Army with ye horses 
that went with the last recruits. Brought word that our friends was all 
well, in high spirits, that Burgoyne’s Army was retreating, our Army 
harrassing them giving battle. Got many advantages greatly embarrassing 
Burgoyne’s Retreat.” 

"Sunday, 26 Oct., 1777. Lt. Ephm: Coburn, Jona: Jones, & Dr. 
Abbot came home from ye Army. Confirmed the surprising account of 
ye Wonderful Victory over Burgoyne and his whole Army, being about 
7000 all taken, Surrendered to Gen. Gates and laid down their arms to 
us, resigned their public stores, that our Militia was conducting them to 
Boston, expecting they would be in this week. Mr. Davis preached an 
excellent sermon suitable to the occasion, from that part of the song of 
Moses where Pharaoh & his host were pursuing the children of Israel, 

' And God overthrew them in the Red Sea.’ ” 

" 1 Nov., Jona: Parkhurst came home from ye Army, brings word that 
all is well. Zealous for a fifer & fiddler for the grand appearance the day 
that Burgoyne’s Famous Army is to be brought in. A Wonderful Show, 


( 


C 


11 


a day that our hearts should be employed to speak & live to the praise 
of God.”* 

On the 29 July, 1778, Capt. Varnum was drawn with his 
Company, and marched in Gen. Lowell’s Brigade to Rhode 
Island, to join Gen. Sullivan who was acting in conjunction 
with the French fleet under Admiral D’Estaing in repelling 
the British. This expedition was unfortuuate in its results, as 
the fleet was scattered by a gale of wind, and the land force, 
after a sharp engagement, forced to retreat. Capt. Varnum’s 
Company lost one man killed, two wounded and one missing. 
The Company served out its term of enlistment at East Green¬ 
wich and Warwick.f 


J. B. Varnum 
Ephm: Coburn 
Abijah Fox 
Jonas Varnum 
Jona: Jones 
Timo: Parker 
John Hancock 
David Trull 
Joshua Pillsbury Clerk. 
Barzala Lue Fifer. 


Dracutt, 23 Jan. 1778. 


Capt. 

Lft. 

Sergt. 


Corp. 


* A Muster Roll of Capt: Joseph B. Varnums Company of Volunteers from Dracutt, in 
Colo: Jona: Reeds Regt., State of Massachusetts Bay, who marched and reinforced ye North¬ 
ern Army, according to A Resolve of the Great & General Court of that State 22 Sept. 1777. 

Privates. 

David Jones. 

Samuel Barron. 

William Abbott. 

Simeon Coburn. 

Leonard Coburn. 

Sami: Coburn. 

David Coburn. 

Saul Coburn. 

Reuben Cobum. 

Jona: Crosby. 

Moses Davis. 

David Fox. 

Zach: Goodhue. 

Bradley Varnum. 

(Military State Records of Massachusetts, Vol.liv. p. 45.) 
t Pay Roll of Capt. Joseph Bradley Varnum’s Company, Colo: McIntosh’s Regt. Gen. 
Lovell’s Brigade of Militia, from the State of Massachusetts Bay on an expedition to Rhode 
Island, July & August, 1778. 

Joseph B. Varnum Capt. 

Temple Kindall Lft. 

Abraham Stickney “ 

John Robbins Sergt. 

Privates. 

Saul Coburn. James Harvey. 

Oliver Coburn. Paul Hill. 

Ephm: Crosby. James Lewis. 

Benj: Danfort.h Sam’l Coney. 


Josiah Hildreth. 
Daniel Jaqueth. 
John Mears. 

Jona: Parkhurst. 
Ebenezer Sawyer. 
David Sawyer. 
David McLaughlin. 
Isaac Parker. 
Samuel Piper. 
Jona: Taylor. 
Thomas Taylor. 
Solomon Woods. 
John Woods. 

Peter Hazletine. 


Reuben Lewis. 
David Aston. 
Asa Spaulding. 
Wm Spaulding. 


Thompson Bacon. 
John Bowman. 
Jesse Auger. 

John Webber. 




12 


In the winter of 1786-7, Capt. Yarnum, leaving the Senate 
Chamber of the General Court, where he represented Middle¬ 
sex County, marched with his Company to aid Gen. Benjamin 
Lincoln in quelling the Insurrection of Shays and others, in 
the western part of the State. While this was a short and 
bloodless campaign, it was a severe one, because of its being 
in the dead of winter. During this compaign, Gen. Lincoln 
found it necessary to send a post to the General Court at Bos¬ 
ton, to procure funds to pay the troops. He selected Capt. 
Yarnum who successfully performed the mission in three and 
one-half days, making a journey of 320 miles. For this he 
received from his commander the following letter of approval: 

"Pittsfield, 12 Feby., 1787. 

Sir :—The business for which troops were ordered out seems to be pretty 
much over. Your services will be important, and are much needed in the 
General Court. It is, therefore, my wish that you assign your Company 
to ye next officer and meet the assembly as soon as possible. Your ex¬ 
ample in turning out on this occasion meets the esteem of your Country 
and entitles you to its thanks. Mine you have most sincerely.* 

With Great esteem, I have the honor to Jbe your ob’t 

Servant, B. Lincoln.” 


Jona: Hey wood. 
Jesse Hey wood. 
Oliver Bowers. 
Oliver Farmer. 
Jona: Botteys. 
Amos Bradley. 
Jesse Butterfield. 
Jeptha Coburn. 


Wm: Danforth. 
James Davis. 
Josiah Fletcher, 
Levi Fletcher. 
Edward Farmer. 
John Gordon. 
Eben; Hunt. 
Jona: Hunt. 


John Perham. 
Wm: Parker. 
Chester Parker. 
Simeon Parker. 
John Shed. 

Jona: Woodward. 
Timo: Bancroft. 
Nat: Ingalls. 


Ebr: Leman. 
Jona: Foster. 
David Merrill. 
Jona: Dunn. 
Andrew Hall. 
John Thompson. 
G. Flagg Lane. 
Thomas Goodwin. 
Abraham Jaquith. 


Dracutt, 6 Oct. 1778. 

(Military State Records Massachusetts, Vol. liv, p. 22.) 

“Aug. 1778, Six men were drafted from the militia to go to R. I., viz: Oliver Bowers, 
Josiah Fletcher, Levi Fletcher, Jona: Dunn, Jesse Heywood, Wm: Spaulding. Dr. John 
Beatty went as a volunteer and was chosen clerk of the Co. commanded by Capt. Joseph 
Bradley Varnum. The above named were drafted for six weeks, and were in an Engagement 
in R. I., in which one man from Capt. V's Co. was killed, two wounded and one missing.” 
Hist, of Chelmsford, p. 181. 


( 


* Letter in possession of John M, Varnum. 



13 


He was chosen Colonel of the 7th Regt., 3d Division, Mass. 
Militia, in which he had served eleven years, and received his 
commission 4 April, 1787. He was a rigid and very successful 
disciplinarian and his regiment received high praise for its 
unexampled order and military spirit, at its first Muster in the 
autumn of 1787. 

On the 22 Nov., 1802, he was made Brigadier-General; and 
on 12 June, 1805, Major-General of the 3d Division of the Militia 
of the State. When he died, in 1821, he was the senior Major- 
General in service. This long term of over 45 years of active 
and continued service is unparalleled in the history of military 
affairs in the State of Massachusetts. A part of it, from 1817 
to 1821, was after his retirement from national politics, when 
his influence from such a source availed him nothing, and after 
too, he had excited much hostility because of his support of the 
war of 1812, unpopular in Massachusetts and throughout New 
England, w T hich conduct was largely influential in his failing 
election for Governor in 1813.* 

The Adjutant-General’s office of the State of Massachusetts 
reports that w under Act of Congress of 12 April, 1812, re^ 
quiring the Commander-in-Chief to take effective measures for 
organizing the Militia, the Western Division of Massachusetts 
was organized under Maj:-General Jos: B. Varnum, to con¬ 
sist of 3,145 men, including officers, to form two Brigades”; 
and the War Department at Washington has this record: " The 
name of Joseph Bradley Varnum appears with rank given as 
Major-General in the Caption of a Pay roll of Capt. John Reed’s 
Company, 3d Mass. Militia, detailed under General Orders of 
6 Sept., 1814. This roll is dated Boston, Feb. 27, 1815, and is 
for the period from Sept. 11 to 13, 1814.” Capt. Reed’s com- 

* Strong, who had rendered himself peculiarly obnoxious to the Administration by refusing 
to call out the State's quota of Militia, received nearly 57,000 votes, while Senator Varnum 
(the Republican candidate) received 43,000. (Adams Hist. TJ. S., Vol. vii., p. 60.) 


14 


pany was serving under General Varnum, who was detached 
Sept. 5, 1814. 


Gen. Varnum’s Military Commissions. 

As Captain 10th Co., 7th Regiment, County of Middlesex, Massachusetts. 

From the Council, dated 31 May, 1776. 

As Captain 7th Regiment. 

From John Hancock, Governor, dated 1 July, 1781. 

As Purchasing Commissary and Agent. 

From Oliver Phelps, Supt. of Purchases, dated 14 July, 1781. 

By authority of the General Court. 

As Colonel 7th Regiment, 3d Division, Militia of Massachusetts. 

From James Bowdoin, Governor, dated 4 April, 1787. 

As Brigadier-General, 2d Brigade, 3d Division, State Militia. 

From Caleb Strong, Governor, dated 22 Nov., 1802. 

As Major-General, 3d Division, State Militia. 

From Caleb Strong, Governor, dated 12 June, 1805. 

Political Career. 

The New England States have generally been noted for a 
recognition of the ability and character of their sons in public 
life, and for honoring them with long tenures of political office. 
Mr. Varnum’s entrance into State politics began in 1781, when 
he was thirty years of age, and from that time up to his death 
his was an active and prominent personality in State and Na¬ 
tional affairs. From 1781 to 1785 he represented his native 
town in the State Legislature. From 1786 to 1795, and from 
1817, after the cessation of his Congressional career, up to 
1821, the year of his death, he was a Senator from Middlesex 
County. In 1795* he was elected a Representative from his 

* Hildreth, History of the United States, vol. iii., p. 577, says : “Among the new members 
of the 4th Congress was Joseph Bradley Varnum of Massachusetts, who had defeated Sam¬ 
uel Dexter after a violent and protracted struggle.” Mr. Dexter was an eminent lawyer, 
and became Secretary of the Treasury during a part of the administration of the elder Adams. 
He was a federalist and a supporter of the treaty of 1795 between the United States and 


15 


District to the 4th National Congress at Philadelphia, and 
after the removal of the seat of Government was one of the 
first to sit as a member of the National House of Representa¬ 
tives at Washington. 

At the beginning of his Congressional career, Mr. Varnum 
met with a rebuff which threatened to imperil his political life. 
Pour memorials were presented to Congress from his District, 
impeaching his election, and demanding that he be regarded as 
ineligible to his seat as Representative. These protests were 
seized upon by his political opponents and made so much of 
that they seemed likely to cause him much trouble. It was 
alleged that inasmuch as he was one of the selectmen of Dra- 
cutt at the time of his election, he had allowed certain votes to 
be received and counted which were illegal if not fraudulent. 
At that period a citizen in order to qualify as a voter in Massa¬ 
chusetts, must be " possessed of 60£ in Real Estate or what 
was equivalent to 3 £ yearly, in any property whatever.” On 
Mr. Yarnum’s own motion the memorials were referred to the 
Committee on Elections. 

When the matter finally came up, Mr. Varnum being called 
upon to vindicate himself, said w he did not think it necessary 
to speak on the subject. It was not very pleasant to sit and 
hear gentlemen from his own State treat him with all possible 
personalities; but he would submit with patience.” This man¬ 
ly position was characteristic of him, and won him the sympa¬ 
thy of the House. 

It came out in the investigation, and was a cause of offence 
to the Memorialists, that the " people of Dracutt were so satis¬ 
fied as to give no information on the subject, and that the uni- 

Great Britain. This measure of the administration was very unpopular in Massachusetts. 
Mr. Varnum was a republican and opposed to the treaty. Apropos of the controversy, the Prov¬ 
idence, R. I., Journal of Sept. 19,1795, under “ Items from Salem, Mass.”, published the follow¬ 
ing squib: “ Should the treaty become the law of the land, the towns of Boston and Dracutt 
are determined to detach themselves from the Union, and form a mighty independent nation 
of themselves.” 


16 


versal respect for Mr. Yarnum where he lived, contradicted the 
old proverb that " a prophet is not without honor save in his 
own country. 5 * The report of the Committee was a complete 
vindication, and upset all the plans of the conspirators to ruin 
him. Its Chairman reported that w no one of the plaintiffs or 
their agent had appeared to prosecute the complaint; that the 
sitting member had evidence that the election in the town of 
Dracutt (the unfairness of which had been complained of) was 
conducted with justness and propriety, and though there had 
been some irregularities committed in other places, they were 
mostly owing to the misconduct of the petitioners, and that the 
conduct of the sitting member has been fair and honorable 
throughout the whole transaction. Your Committee are there¬ 
fore of the opinion that Joseph Bradley Varnum was duly 
elected, and that the charges against him are wholly un¬ 
founded. 55 * 

After the removal of the archives of the United States from 
Philadelphia, and the establishment of the Seat of Government 
at Washington, he continued to represent his "District. In the 
Ninth Congress (1805-1807), he was a prominent candidate 
for the Speakership, receiving 24 votes, 57 being necessary to 
a choice. In the Tenth Congress (1807-1809), he was chosen, 
the vote being Yarnum 65. Nathaniel Macon, candidate for re- 
election, 45, scattering 9. This election resulted in overthrow¬ 
ing the power of John Randolph, Speaker Yarnum ignoring 
his claim to the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ways and 
Means, which position carried with it the leadership of the 
House.f 

* Annals of Congress. Vol. v., pp. 368, 369, 785, 789, 823, 838; vol. vi., pp. 1913, 1984 
1985, 1987. 

f The schism which has taken place between the Northern and Southern Democrats, looks 
to me to be of such irreconcilable nature that it can never be healed. John Randolph and 
some of his friends lead the Southern Junto; while Bidwell, Gen. Varnum, Crowninshield 
and Gen. Thomas appear to manage the Northern phalanx. Gen Varnum, he has styled 
“ Sworn Interpreter of Presidential messages,” &c.~ Letter of Col. Ben Tallmadge in Life of 
Manasseh Cutler, page 327. 


17 


Speaker Yarnum appointed in his place George W. Campbell 
of Tennessee.* Concerning this important change, Hon. Albert 
Gallatin, then Secretary of the Treasury, wrote : "Yarnum, 
much against my wishes, has removed Randolph from Ways 
and Means and appointed Campbell of Tennessee. It was im¬ 
proper as to public business, and will give me additional la¬ 
bor.” f Randolph’s acerbity of temper and bullying disposition 
hack made him unbearable, and this change, if it did not expe¬ 
dite business, at least created harmony. In the 11th Congress 
(1809-11), Speaker Yarnum received the compliment of a 
reelection, the vote being Yarnum 59, Goldsborough 17, Bas¬ 
sett 17, scattering 24. 

On the question of Direct Taxes, Mr. Yarnum made in Jan., 
1797, a long and able speech. It is full of statistics taken from 
Government reports, and does him great credit as a maiden 
effort. He said : " I am clearly of the opinion that any sums 
needed for defraying the expenses of the Government or for 
the payments of its just debts, ought to be raised by duties on 
imposts and excises. That is a method of taxation with which 
we are acquainted and which experience has taught us the 
operation of, under this Government. There are almost insu¬ 
perable objections to a direct tax, and until all the objects of 
indirect taxation are exhausted I presume the Government will 
never adopt one.”! He argued from figures taken from the 
annual reports of receipts and expenditures of the Treasury, 
that the proceeds from existing taxes would be commensurate 
with the demands of the Government for the ensuing four 
years. This doctrine was in unison with the political tenets 
of his party, and he consistently maintained it during his Con¬ 
gressional career. 

* Mr. Campbell became a member of the United States Senate, and took his seat the 
same session as Mr. Varnum (1811). In 1814 he was appointed Secretary of the Treasury, 
by President Madison. 

f Adams’ Gallatin, p. 363. 

+ Annals of Congress, vol. vi., pp. 1879 to 1885. 


18 


On the question of receiving the petition of certain manu¬ 
mitted slaves, whom parties had seized and sold again into 
slavery, but who had escaped and fled into Philadelphia where 
they had been held under the Fugitive Slave Act, and had 
prayed relief from Congress, Mr. Varnum in Feb., 1797, said: 
" The Petitioners had received injury under a law of the United 
States (the Fugitive Act), and therefore had an undoubted 
right to the attention of the General Government. They de¬ 
clared themselves to be free, and he did not see any argument 
of force to convince the House that they were not. Surely it 
could not be said that color alone should designate them as 
slaves. To be deprived of liberty was more important than to 
be deprived of property.” * 

On the question of striking out the clause relating to the 
punishment of persons found guilty of importation of slaves, 
insisted upon by the Southern members, Mr. Varnum voted in 
the negative. He remarked that he " thought the Southern 
States were in imminent danger from slavery. He recalled 
that he had heard a former member from the South compare 
that part of the Union to a bundle of combustibles which only 
needed a little fire to kindle a blaze which would consume 
them. He had often heard gentlemen from the South express 
this dread of the final ruin of that country from slavery.” j* 

These expressions of his sentiments on slavery tally with 
the tribute paid him by Henry Wilson in his " Rise and Fall 
of the Slave Power in America,” who quotes him as an earnest 
opponent of the traffic in human beings, and asserting it to be 
"equally criminal with the practice of the Algerines in carrying 
American citizens into slavery,” which was a burning question 
in his day, and made the simile most caustic and forcible. 
" Where there was a disposition to retain a part of our species 

* Benton’s Debates of Congress, vol. ii., 60. 

t Annals of Congress, vol. xvi., 243. 


19 


in slavery, there could not be a proper respect for the rights of 
mankind.”* 

Such sentiments were far in advance of the morals of the 
time. The conscience of the North was not generally sensitive 
on the subject of slavery. It had not long disappeared in New 
England, and trade in slaves was winked at. In Dec., 1811, 
the brig " Saragossa,” from Bristol, R. I., was underwritten in 
Boston, " at and from the leeward coast of Africa to Havana,” 
in which policy it is stated, "The assurers are not liable for 
the mortality of the slaves, but take the risk of insurrection.” t 
In May, 1798, on the question of a temporary Direct Tax, he 
made strong opposition, and said in reply to the argument that 
the said tax might at any time be repealed. " Although this yi 
House might consent to a repeal of this tax, it was by no 
means certain that the other House would consent to it. 
Indeed it was his opinion that if this tax was established as a 
permanent one, that the people of this country would not be 
relieved from it for many years. Many objects, no doubt, 
would be found by gentlemen over fruitful in this respect, upon 
which to expend any surplus which might arise from it.”J 
These were words of wisdom and foresight uttered on the 
threshold of our Nation’s history, and the legislation in our 
Country proves their accuracy. It has taken years of deter¬ 
mined effort to wipe from our statute books laws or enactments 
made to fit peculiar exigencies, and Mr. Varnum’s prediction 
as to the bill referred to was a wise and sagacious warning. 

Again in June, 1798, on the question of Direct Taxes, he 
interposed his objections. He said he "had always thought, 't' 
since the establishment of our Government, that there should 
be no necessity for resorting to direct taxes, except in case of 
our being engaged in war ; but he now believed a majority of 

* Wilson, vol. i., 36. 

f Original in possession of John M. Varnum. 

X Benton’s Debates, vol. ii., 272. 


20 


the Government of the United States are determined on war, 
and he would on that account have given his vote for the bill, 
if the tax proposed was to be laid on just and equitable prin¬ 
ciples”* * * § 

Party lines were strongly drawn in the early days of the Re¬ 
public, and in March, 1802, the repealing of the Act of 1801 
relating to the Judiciary was made an issue between the Re¬ 
publicans and Federalists.t Adams says, that the fear was 
that the Federalists, who had found the courts favorite places 
for their patronage and the setting forth of their theories as to 
government, would gain great advantage in the promulgation 
of their views through decisions. He asserts that Joseph Story, 
a republican, was elevated to the bench of the U. S. Supreme 
Court to offset the influence of John Marshall the Chief Justice. J 
In the debate, Mr. Yarnum made a lengthy argument as to 
the right of Congress under the Constitution to repeal the Act 
creating the Court. It occupies many pages of the Annals, 
and is a strong exposition of his views. In his speech he pays 
this fine tribute to the judicial system of his State: “ There has 

never been a Court of the United States of which the Judges 
possessed more eminence of character, ability, law-knowledge, 
impartiality, correctness of decision, and moral principle, than 
has adorned the Bench of the Supreme Judicial Court of Mas¬ 
sachusetts from its first establishment under the present State 
Constitution up to the present time. ”§ 

In the Committee of the whole in the debate on the Act erect¬ 
ing Louisiana into two Territories and providing for the tem- 

* Benton’s Debates, vol. ii., 304. 

f“ The Republicans were strict constructionists of the Constitution, narrowing down powers 
of the Federal Government to the express and exact terms of that instrument, while the Fed¬ 
eralists claimed a broader and more liberal exposition in favor of the States. The opposition 
between these parties was the strength of State Sovereignty against Federal Sovereignty.”— 
Life of Joseph Story, Vol. I., pp. 276-277. 

+ Adams’ Hist. U. S„ Vol. I., p. 260. 

§ Annals of Congress, Vol. XI., pp. 971 to 981. 


< 


v <.. . 



21 


porary government thereof, Mr. Varnum was in advance of 
his party, and took strong ground as to the rights of the people. 
Adams says "Varnum of Massachusetts denounced the whole 
system, and demanded an elective legislature.”* In February, 
1804, he said, “ 1 am of opinion that the bill provides such 
a kind of government as never has been known in the 
United States. Sound policy, no less than justice, dictates the 
propriety of making provision for the election of a legislative 
body by the people. There is not only the common obligation 
of justice imposed on Congress to do this, but it is bound to do 
so by treaty. This treaty (with France) makes it obligatory to 
admit the inhabitants of Louisiana as soon as possible to the 
enjoyment of all the rights, privileges, advantages and immu¬ 
nities of citizens of the United States. ” He moved the refer¬ 
ence to a select committee to so modify the act. Mr. Speaker 
Macon strongly supported Mr. Varnum in his views.f 

On the question of Revolutionary Pensions, Mr. Varnum, in 
Dec., 1805, said that "during the late Revolutionary War with 
Great Britain, the Government of the United States thought 
proper to place on the Pension list, certain officers and soldiers 
who had been wounded or disabled in the war. It had so 
happened from a variety of circumstances, that a large number 
of our meritorious officers and soldiers of this description had 
not been on the list. A number of them had kept back and ^ 
omitted to reap the benefit of the provision, under the expec- 
tancy of supporting themselves by their own industry or 
through the assistance of friends. He believed that many had 
been prompted to do this by the most laudable of motives. 
Many of them had since found themselves unable to earn a de¬ 
cent subsistence. A number of petitions of this kind had this 
morning been referred to the Committee on Clairrfs, and Mr. 


* Adams’ Hist. TJ. S., Vol. II., p. 123. 
f Benton’s Debates, Vol. III., p. 144. 


22 


Varnum said that it was his wish that a general and ample 
provision should be made for all who had been disabled. The 
Independence and happy situation of our country were owing 
to their exertions, and our wealth now enables us to make gen¬ 
erous provision for their future comfort and welfare. He there¬ 
fore moved that the Committee on Claims be instructed to en¬ 
quire what further measures are necessary to be adopted to 
remunerate the meritorious officers and soldiers who were 
wounded or disabled in the Revolutionary war with Great 
Britain, with leave to report by bill or otherwise.”* 

The offering of this motion was a peculiarly gratifying act 
to Mr. Varnum, who himself a patriot of the Revolution, felt 
deeply for those whose pride had kept them from receiving the 
bounty of the Government and for whose relief a special enact¬ 
ment was necessary. 

In January, 1808, a bill was under consideration by the 
Committee on the Whole in the House, "to provide more 
effectually for the national defence by the Militia of the United 
States.” 

It authorized the President, on the appearance of national 
danger, to order out the militia of the United States, to be 
known as the "Junior class of Militia.” This bill was a pecu¬ 
liarly obnoxious one to Mr. Varnum, who thoroughly acquainted 
with the militia system from experience and practice, being at 
the time a Major-General of the Militia of the State of Massa¬ 
chusetts, and having been an officer in continuous service from 
1776, saw clearly the shortcomings and defects of the measure 
and its utter impracticability. There was no man more com¬ 
petent to throw light on such a question than himself, and his 
words on this and a subsequent occasion, on a bill of similar 
import in the Senate, carried a conviction which led to its de¬ 
feat. Mr. Varnum (Speaker) said "he hoped the committee 


* Annals of Congress, vol. xv., 267, 


23 


would rise, and be refused leave to sit again on this bill. He 
believed that the situation of the United States at present 
would by no means admit of the classification of the militia. 
If ever it was necessary this is not the proper time. It had 
been said that the classing had been recommended by the seve¬ 
ral Presidents of the United States. If that is a fact it was 
not known to him. He could see no kind of advantage to be 
derived from the proposed modification of the militia system. 
Were not the militia, under the present laws, equal to any 
service which could be required of them ? If particular States 
v had failed to carry into effect the part assigned them by the 

Constitution, would any other plan induce them to attend to 
it? It was a fact that where State Governments had taken up 
the subject of the organization and discipline of the Militia and 
carried it into effect as far as in "their power, those States had 
a respectable body of militia, from 18 to 45 years in age, 
banded together as brothers in arms, and they from their disci? 
pline, would regard it as an invidious distinction if men at 
particular ages were selected from the mass, and thus destroy 
the present efficiency. He was aware that it has been said 
that the militia was inefficient in some parts of the United 
States. What was lacking, was that subordination which ex¬ 
isted in other sections, and nothing more.” 

" It has been said that in the course of the Revolutionary 
war the militia in some instance abandoned their posts; but he 
was sure that the credit due to the militia of his part of the 
\ country had not been awarded. In some of the hardest battles 

of the war the principal actors were the militia. There is a 
radical difficulty in the system proposed. The bill provides 
that none shall be called into general service except those from 
21 to 26 years of age. Is it expected that young men will be 
better able to perform military duty than those who have be¬ 
come veterans in the service, who have experienced the advan- 


24 


tages of liberty, and who have families and property to defend? 
The Constitutions of some of the States provide that the Cap¬ 
tain and Subaltern of each Company shall be chosen from the 
whole Campany from the age of 21 to 45. The officers would 
generally be over 46 years of age. The practice is at variance 
with this bill.” 

“ Gentlemen may suppose that it is an easy thing for the 
State Governments to alter their systems to conform to the 
requirements of the General Government ; but it is a matter 
which some States will not do. The militia at the present 
time in some parts of the United States are well organized and 
disciplined, and display a spirit of emulation which does them 
honor. In the State he had the honor to represent, there are 
70,000 militia, all fully armed and accoutred. They are indi¬ 
vidually subject to a fine of $8.00 for every time they appear 
without arms, and if not always provided, to a fine of $10.00 
per annum. This severe regulation results in universal arming. 
Very few troops, take them from what part of the world you 
will, are better disciplined than our companies of artillery, 
every man of which is completely uniformed at his own ex¬ 
pense, and every company of which is supplied with brass field 
pieces, of which they have 150. The whole body of militia 
would be ready to march, if called upon, in 12 hours notice, 
and under officers of their own choice would go into service 
with alacrity. They would consider it a hardship to see their 
younger comrades called into .a State which did not happen to 
adjoin their own while they could not march to assist, as this 
bill provides that men between 26 and 45 shall go no farther 
than the border of their own or an adjoining State. If an ene¬ 
my were to land in Connecticut the brave militia of New 
Hampshire or Vermont are not to assist in repelling them be¬ 
cause the said States are not adjoining. It is the flower of the 
militia which is to be slaughtered, instead of repelling the ene- 


25 


my by the whole force of the body. Every man capable of 
bearing arms should be called upon to take part in the defence 
of his neighborhood, when invaded. It was felt to be a hard- 
ship in the time of the Revolutionary war that every man capa¬ 
ble of bearing arms should be compelled to do his part, scarcely 
a man being left to till the ground ; but it was essential to the 
safety of the country. Have we increased to such a degree of 
population that we can afford to now leave at home three- 
fourths of our able bodied men ?” 

" This bill embodies a system which has many times been be- 
^ fore the House for consideration, and has always been found 

impolitic to adopt. I hope at this critical juncture that we shall 
not wholly disorganize the militia because some persons do not 
choose to submit to military discipline and the subordination 
essential thereto. I am ready to assert that if the system is 
adopted, that our militia will be broken up, as the States have 
laws now in force in conformity with the Act of 1792 for the 
organization of the militia, and under said laws are ready to 
act.” * 

Later, in the same month, the subject was again under dis¬ 
cussion, and the Annals state, "Mr. Yarnum opposed the bill 
with considerable spirit and force.” f The result finally was 
that the measure died in the hands of the Committee, probably 
because its advocates were at last brought to see its inutility. 
It may be that the results of these early efforts of the General 
Government to enact laws to gain control over the militia of 
) the several States led to the final abandonment of the subject. 

The General Government has never exercised control over the 
militia of the States, always making its requisitions, in case 
of war, through the governors. Even in the war of 1812, the 
Governor of the State of Massachusetts (Strong) refused to 

* Annals of Congress, vol. xviii, 1484-5-6, 

f Annals of Congress, vol. xviii., p. 1508. 


26 





acquiesce in the requisition of the President of the United 
States (Monroe). 

The speech just quoted was the last appearance of Speaker 
Yarnum on the floor of the House, and he spoke only on this 
occasion, in Committee of the Whole, to discuss a matter dear 
to his heart, as he was an active participant in the military 
affairs of the State he had the honor to represent, and from the 
inception of its military system had been its able exponent. 

The State election in Massachusetts in 1808 resulted in the 
choice of Christopher Gore as Governor. Gen. Yarnum was 
one of the candidates of the Republicans ; the defeated ticket 
being Levi Lincoln of Worcester (afterwards elected Gover¬ 
nor) , and Joseph Bradley Varnum of Dracutt, Lieut. Governor.* 
The campaign of 1811 yielded a very important triumph for 
the party to which Gen. Yarnum belonged. It had several 
times elected its candidate for Governor, but had failed to gain 
full control of the Legislature. In 1810 it elected Elbridge 
Gerry as Governor and a majority of Representatives, but 
lacked one vote of control of the Senate. The election of 1811 
gave a majority of 40. in the House and secured the election 
of its candidate (J oseph Story) for Speaker and the one lack¬ 
ing vote in the Senate. 

w This triumph was indeed a real one, for it enabled the 
Republicans to send Speaker Yarnum to the Senate of the 


1 


* The official returns in State Archives of this election are:— 

Gore,for Governor.47,916 

Lincoln for “.. 45,178 

Varnum for Lieutenant Governor . . . 44,729 

Cobb “ “ “ . 47,540 

Necessary to choice . , 46,662 

As an evidence of the virulence of politics of those days the following copied from the 
Columbian Centinel, April 1st, 1808, is in evidence: “The Revd Clergy or the Deacons of the 
two religious societies in the Town of Worcester are invited and requested to certify from 
the best evidence they can obtain, how many times the new Democratic Candidate for Gov¬ 
ernor entered either of the houses of worship on the Lord’s day, from Jan. 1, 1797, to Jan, 1, 
18 08, making a period of 10 years and including 520 Sabbaths,” 




United States in place of Timothy Pickering, whose term had 
expired, and at a critical moment of our history made Massa¬ 
chusetts a Republican State.”* 

Joseph Story, Speaker of the House of Representatives of 
Massachusetts, and afterwards Justice of the United States 
Supreme Court, wrote May 7, 1810, of this contest : "In the 
glorious struggles of the Republicans I have not been an in¬ 
different spectator, and I now have the right to rejoice in the 
honorable triumph they have achieved against intrigue, influence 
and wealth. We shall elect a Senator in the place of Mr. Pick¬ 
ering, or at least (if the Senate do not concur) we shall save 
our State from being misrepresented. Let us enjoy the pres¬ 
ent moment, and with sincere congratulation ' pursue the tri¬ 
umph and partake the gale.’ ”f 

In the Senate Gen. Yarnum was made chairman of the Com¬ 
mittee on Military Affairs. During his term as Senator (1813) 
he became the candidate of the Republican party and received 
the nomination of Governor of his State against Caleb Strong, 
who represented the anti-war element.^ This campaign and 

* MacMaster’s History of the People of the TJ. S., vol. iii., pp. 422-423. 

f Story : Life and Letters, vol. i, 198. 

J The election for Governor was held April 15, 1813. The Republican banner bore the 
inscription: 

Free Trade & No Impressment. 

American Republican Candidates. 

HON. JOSEPH B. VARNTJM 
for Governor 

HON. WILLIAM KING 
for Lieut. Governor 
of Massachusetts for the ensuing year. 

The vote stood: Strong, 56,463 ; Varnum, 42,789 ; necessary to choice, 45,670. . ; 

A doggerel of this campaign ran as follows : 

“ Let peace and commerce flourish long, 

I give my vote for Caleb Strong; ) 

But those who wish for war and tax, 

Oh, darn ’um! 

Let ’em vote for Gen. Varnum.” 


28 


that of Lieut. Governor in 1808, resulted in the only two de¬ 
feats of his political career. 

Adams says: "Of all supporters of the war (1812) Senator 
Varnum was one of the steadiest. He was also the highest 
authority in the Senate on matters pertaining to the militia. 

When Giles’s bill came under discussion (Nov. 6th, 1814), 

Varnum began the debate with a speech vehemently hostile to 
the proposed legislation.”* He said: " I am deeply impressed 
with the importance of the present crisis of our national con¬ 
cerns, and the necessity for the adoption of strong and ener¬ 
getic measures calculated to meet and repulse the force which 
the enemy contemplate placing in the field against us. No 
man in this Senate will go farther than I shall feel disposed to 
go, to effect the object which is dear to every friend of the 
nation, provided the measures pursued shall appear to me 
founded in justice and equity.” 

He first objected that "although the bill purported to call 
for an army of 80,000 men, yet in some of the subsequent sec¬ 
tions of it we find that instead of realizing the pleasing pros¬ 
pect of seeing an ample force in the field, said force is to be 
reduced indefinitely, which contradiction in terms, inconsis¬ 
tency in principle and uncertainty in effect, cannot fail to pro¬ 
duce mortification and chagrin.” He objected to drafting men 
from the militia for two years service, " because the principle 
of nine months service was already established by common 
law. If the nation wants a regular force, why not make it a 
part of the regular army, without a system, of militia drafting, C 

unnecessary, unequal, and unjust. The machinery of classifi¬ 
cation and draft is wholly impracticable. The limit of service 
to adjoining States, abandoned the objects for which the Union 
existed. The proffered bounties would ruin the recruiting 
service for the regular army. The proposed exemptions and 

* Adams’s History of the United States, vol, Via., pp. 269, 270, 


■ 


29 


deductions in terms of duty, left no permanency to the service. 
The bill inflicted no penalties, and charged no officers with the 
duty of making the draft. I consider the whole system as re¬ 
solving into a recommendation upon the patriotism of the 
States and Territories and upon the patriotism of the classes.”* 

" The justice of Varnum’s criticism could not fairly be ques¬ 
tioned,” Mr. Adams concludes.*)" This view was supported by 
Senator Daggett of Connecticut, who immediately followed 
Mr. Varnum, and by Jeremiah Mason of New Hampshire, "a 
man second to no one in legal ability or in personal authority.” 
Senator Christopher Gore, formerly Governor of Massachu¬ 
setts, although opposed to Mr. Varnum in politics, supported 
him in opposition to the bill. 

Formerly the office of President yro tem of the United States 
Senate was held to be a very important position, made especi¬ 
ally so by its relation to the Presidential office. In Dec., 1813, 
Senator Varnum was chosen to preside over this body, and 
after the expiration of his term was repeatedly chosen as Chair¬ 
man of the Committee of the Whole. At the close of his career 
as Senator from Massachusetts, when the overthrow of his 
party had ended his congressional services, his constituency 
thought him too able aud sound a counsellor to relegate to 
private life, and from the successive years of 1817 to 1821, the 
close of his life, he represented them in the Senate of the State 
of Massachusetts. 

He was a member of two important Conventions in his State: 
that of 1787, to ratify the Federal Constitution ; and that of 
1820, to revise the State Constitution. Over the latter he was 
the main presiding officer, President John Adams and Chief 
Justice Parker, the regularly chosen Presidents, being unable to 
perform their duties, the former declining the honor because 


* Annals of Congress, vol. xxviii., pp. 58-69. 
f Adams’s History of the United States, vol. viii., p. 270. 


30 


of enfeebled age, and the latter being unable to actively serve 
because of ill health. Gen. VarnunTs weight of character and 
great experience as a legislator gave him a very important 
standing in this Convention. He was made Chairman in the 
Committee of the Whole, and that of the Militia. On questions 
of parliamentary law and methods of proceedure, he was con¬ 
stantly appealed to, and his decision went without debate. 
The deference paid him, and the high honor of being selected 
and presented to the Convention by Chief Justice Parker, as 
President pro tem , who spoke of him as one " whose long pub¬ 
lic services in high stations, and whose able exertions in the 
Convention, entitled him to the respect of his country,” was ex¬ 
ceedingly gratifying to his feelings. In a letter written at 
that time to his wife, he says, of the high esteem shown him 
by members : 

" Boston, Dec. 2d, 1820. 

My dear Wife : 

***** 

I have really been much disappointed since I came here. I did ex¬ 
pect that the old frowns of Federalism would be poured down upon me 
in Torrents; but from some Observations which I made in regard to the 
Pules of proceedure in the Convention, and my Presidency in the Chair 
since, when in Committee of the Whole, seems to have eradicated every 
Idea of party prejudice in regard to me, and I am now hailed as the Sum- 
mum bonum of Order in the Convention. Many gentlemen have declared 
to me that they had been impressed with an Idea that I was opposed to 
principles of order and good Government; but that they had found out 
their mistake, and now all parties eulogize me as holding principles of 
correct intention.”* 


1 


He appears to have made no lengthy remarks in the Con¬ 
vention, except on the matter of religious toleration. This 
came up in the debate on incorporating denominational religious 

* Letter in possession of John M.Varnum. 


31 


societies. Gen. Yarnnm said, "if he had not been assigned to 
a duty which was incompatible with his taking any part in the 
debate, he would not have had occasion to detain the Conven¬ 
tion at this late period. He would make no profession as to his 
regard for religion : his conduct would speak for itself; nor 
would he make any invidious distinctions between different sects 
or denominations. He would wish all to live in fellowship so 
far as their principles were consistent with pure morality and 
the good of society. He wished the gentlemen would unite 
and adopt something which would give satisfaction to the de¬ 
nominations. For this purpose he hoped they would do away 
with all technical difficulties, and gave a full discussion to the 
subject before the Convention. It was a matter dear to the 
people at large, and they counted upon its being fully deliberated 
upon. It was for the benefit of all interested that we should 
act with such a spirit of conciliation as all might go home satis¬ 
fied. We all agree until we come to the difficulties arising from 
differences of sects and denominations. He wished that every¬ 
thing like discrimination might be done away with, and we come 
together like brothers. It has been decided by the Supreme 
Court that before the law of 1811, no society was within the 
meaning of the article unless it was incorporated. It has been 
the practice to tax every person in the parish where he lived in 
disregard of what he might pay for the support of his own re¬ 
ligious teacher. After burdening the Parishes with collecting 
ministerial taxes assessed on them from persons belonging to 
other Societies, it was often necessary to restore the money to 
the religious teacher to whom it justly belonged. He contended 
that every person should be taxed only by his own denomination, 
and that the Parish ought not to be put to the trouble of levying 
and collecting a tax nor a religious teacher nor the person pay¬ 
ing it, the trouble of getting the money back. He was aston¬ 
ished that so many gentlemen from the Town of Boston were 


32 


opposed to everything that gives religious toleration. He was 
never better pleased than when the honorable Chief Justice, his 
associate in the chair, the other day came forward and in so 
manly a manner, advocated the rights of conscience and of 
private judgment in matters of faith and worship. He thought 
that everything like an intolerant spirit in religion was fast pas¬ 
sing away, and he trusted that before long men of all denomi¬ 
nations would be willing to worship together. He wished to 
promote this harmonious sjhrit, and to adopt a principle which 
would permit men of all beliefs to retire from this Convention 
satisfied with a work well done and one broadly promoting the 
cause of Christian fellowship.”* 

This speech from General Yarnum, who was brought up un¬ 
der the tenets of New England Congregationalism, and be¬ 
came in his later years a Baptist, distinguishes him as a man of 
very advanced liberalism, broad and catholic in his convictions, 
and remarkably progressive for his day. 


His Political Commissions. 


State of Massachusetts. 


National Congress. 


-i 


House, 

Senate, - 

House, - 
Speaker of, - 

“ “ Senate, - 

“ “ Pres, pro tem of, 

State of Massachusetts. Convention to ratify Federal Constitution, 1787. 
Delegate to Convention to amend State Constitution, 1820. 

His Civil Commissions. 


from 1781 to 1786. 
1786 to 1795. 
1817 to 1821. 
1795 to 1811. 
“ 1807 to 1811. 

“ 1811 to 1817. 

1813. 


Justice of Peace and Quorum - from 1787 to 1818. 

Chief Justice, Court of Sessions, j “ 1807 to 1811. 

Member of Governor’s Council, 1787, 1792. 

Sheriff of Middlesex Co. (declined), 1794. 

* Debates, Massachusetts Convention, 1820, pp. 562, 563. 

t Established 3 July, 1782, *‘To hear and determine all matters relating to the conservation 
of the Peace, cognizable by them at common law.” An amendatory Act of 19 June, 1807, 
provided for a Chief Justice and a number of Associate Justices throughout the State. 


i 


k 


33 


Personality. 

John Randolph, who was never so happy as when imputing 
base motives to his political opponents, and whose sharp tongue 
was dreaded by all his associates in Congress, in the debate on 
Spanish affairs in the house, 7th April, 1806, charged Gen. 
Varnum as being the author of certain expressions and opinions 
as to President Jefferson, asserting that he " seemed thunder¬ 
struck and humbled ” at the charge. " As to being humbled,” 
replied Gen. Varnum, "I have never felt humbled by any man. 
I have never yet felt nor shall feel afraid of the face of mortal 
man. I have been many years in the service of my country, 
and I have never heard any argument that I was unwilling to 
meet, if it was worthy answer. I have done my duty uncon¬ 
scious of injury to any man.” * 

This incident illustrates the type of character of Gen. Varnum. 
He was fearless and independent. Throughout his whole 
political career there is no evidence that he lacked the cour¬ 
age of his convictions. He stood manfully up in maintenance 
of the right of petition in the case of manumitted slaves in 
the national Congress at Philadelphia in 1797, and for the free¬ 
dom of religious thought in 1820, in the Massachusetts Con¬ 
stitutional Convention. Throughout his whole career he was 
strong and sturdy as a leader of his party, when Massachusetts 
and Maine were one political community, and was a consistent 
Republican, even when supporting the war of 1812, an un¬ 
popular measure in his section. 

In 1809, when he was the nominee of his party for the office 
of Lieutenant-Governor with Levi Lincoln of Worcester as the 
candidate for Governor, he reluctantly permitted the use of his 
name, and only consented because of party fealty. His letters 
at that date show that he did not anticipate success ; moreover, 
his position as Speaker of the National House was a congenial 


Annals of Congress, vol, xx, pp. 987, 988. 


34 


one, and he had nothing to gain by resigning it.* The Boston 
Patriot of Mar. 21st, 1809, said of him, u Gen. Yarnum has 
spent the chief part of a laborious life in the public service. He 
is a farmer; a statesman and a soldier; of such estimation at 
Washington, that he was recently elevated by that august body, 
the House of Representatives, to the Speakership—a situation 
honorable to the country which has been so long distinguished 
by his useful services. ” 

As a farmer he was so devoted to that pursuit, that he was 
ever speaking in its praise to his sons, as a vocation, and eulo¬ 
gizing it as the choicest, most honorable and most satisfying of 
occupations. His ancestors had been large, original land 
owners in Dracutt, and although his military and political life 
had led him into other and varied activities, he still clung to 
the arduous life and labor of a farmer. He well knew the hard¬ 
ship of it, for he says in his autobiography, “ With his own 
hands he laid miles of stone wall,” to enclose his acres. 

It was a tribute to his personal worth, that as a Republican, 
and a leader of his party, he had the close confidence and es¬ 
teem of the illustrious Jefferson. His relations with the elder 
Adams, Jefferson, Gallatin, Gerry, Granger, and other famous 
statesmen in the early history of our country, is attested by let¬ 
ters from them, carefully preserved by his descendants. One 
from John Adams, of 19 closely written pages, is alluded to by 
Joseph Story, at that date a member of Congress from Massa¬ 
chusetts : 

“ Washington, Jan. 14, 1809. 

President Adams has written a very long letter, to Gen. Yarnum on our 
national affairs. He speaks in great approbation of the Administration, 
and goes the whole length in vindication of our national rights. I assure 
you that I read this letter with the greatest delight, and regretted that for 

* Nathaniel Macon of Georgia, who was a candidate for Speaker with Gen. Varnum in the 
contest in 1809, said in withdrawing his name, “I regard the office of Speaker of the House 
one of the most honorable in the nation—perhaps none were more so after that of the Presi¬ 
dent and Vice-President.” Macon was Speaker 1807—1809. 


a moment, I had ever doubted his patriotism. The letter would do honor 
to any man living. ”* 

In personal appearance, Gen. Varnum was a man somewhat 
inclined to corpulency; of about the average height, having a 
light complexion, with dark blue eyes. The portrait accompa¬ 
nying this sketch has been pronounced by those who knew him 
in life, to be a very accurate likeness, and to convey a just im¬ 
pression of his personal appearance. His mental powers were 
of the highest order. He was a man of uncommon accuracy 
of judgment, and his opinions were given with promptitude. 
He was regarded as u the most distinguished man of his time 
in the Merrimack river valley.” His republican simplicity was 
pronounced. He would wear no clothing of foreign manufac¬ 
ture. His apparel was of homespun, prepared by his wife on 
her loom at the homestead farm. Some years before 1790, one 
Ezekiel Hale came to Dracutt and engaged in business at 
Beaver brook—that of fulling, dyeing and dressing the home¬ 
spun cloth made in the farmers’ families. In 1810, Mr. Hale 
made a bolt of his finest cloth, and presented it to Gen. Varnum, 
who had it made into a suit of clothes, which he proudly wore 
as he sat as Speaker of the National House at Washington. 

On the 4th of March, 1817, his term as Senator ended, and 
with it his congressional career. A letter to his wife describes 
his relief at laying down the cares and duties of his long ser¬ 
vice: 

“ Washington, Dec. 28, 1816. 

My dear Wife. 

With consolation, satisfaction and gratitude, I antici¬ 
pate the fourth of March next, which will free me from the solicitude of 
serving my country in situations which have compelled me, for a consider¬ 
able part of the time each year for thirty-seven years past, to abandon the 
enjoyment of domestic happiness. ”f 

* Story, Life and Letters, Vol, 1, p. 192. 
f In possession of John M. Varnum. 


3G 


On his retirement to his home farm, his active political life 
did not end. He was elected Senator from Middlesex County 
to the Legislature of Massachusetts in 1817; and was a mem¬ 
ber at time of his decease in 1821. He was Senior Maj. General 
in the military service of his State. He was chosen a delegate 
to the Convention for the revision of the Constitution of the 
State in 1820. 

He passed away on the 11th Sept., 1821, from a sudden at¬ 
tack of angina pectoris. His son Benj. F. made this entry in 
his Journal, the month previous: “ Father instructed me in 
case he should suddenly be taken away, to have a common cof¬ 
fin with a box, and no parade of military, and to purchase and 
hoist a black flag at halfmast. ” 

His decease was sudden. He rode out on the day preceding 
it, but being indisposed speedily returned, and found his disso¬ 
lution rapidly approaching. He called his family around him, 
acquainted them with his situation, gave directions that his fu¬ 
neral might not be attended with any military or civic parade, 
appointed his pall bearers and calmly awaited the final sum¬ 
mons. 

From the house to the little burial ground where his body 
has its last resting place, is but a step. There were no car¬ 
riages, only a procession on foot, the coffin on a bier, borne by 
the pall bearers, followed by the family and those who came to 
pay the last tribute. 

The Columbian Centinel of Sept. 15, 1821, said of him: “In 
all the offices he held, Gen. Varnum exhibited an assiduity 
which never tired, and an integrity above suspicion. Though 
of late years he differed on some points of political economy, 
from the majority of his fellow-citizens of the State, it may 
with truth and justice be affirmed that at his death, Massachu¬ 
setts did not contain a more honest or independent man.” 
















» 























































































































( 
































































